Casting and shelf plate



June 19, 1928. 1,674,108 H. A. GRINE CASTING AND SHELF PLATE Filed Aug. 23, 1926 I'NVEN TOR. F 1:7. 2 flariyA. Grme BY 1 I A TTORMEYS Patented June 19, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIc HARRY A. GRINE, or MEADOWBROOK, wnsr vmermn, ASSIGNOR roman GRASSELLI CHEMICAL COMPANY, or CLEVELAND, 011:0,11 conronnrron or 01110.

CASTING AND SHELF PLATE.

Application filed August 23, 1926. Serial No. 130,870.

The present invention, relating as indicated to a casting and shelf plate, is particularly directed to an improved supporting shelf or plate for use in Belgian zinc smelting furnaces for supporting the outerend of clay retorts. The principal object of the presentinvention is the provision of a frontshelf casting and tile which will have greater strength than those now in use, and one in which the clay tile may be positively locked in the casting to prevent accidental falling out of the tile either during the operation of the furnace or when changing retorts.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, con sists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Fig. 1 is a sectional view illustrating the interior of a furnace in which my improved invention may be used; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation partially in section of my improved device.

Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown a furnace 1 provided with shelf plates 2 of my improved construction for holding the forward end of retorts 3. The construction of the shelf casting is shown in Fig. 2. It consists of a casting 4 provided with a socket 5 formed in its inner end portion for receiving a clay tile 6, upon which the retort is to be supported. The main portion of the casting extends rearwardly from the socket port-ion and is provided with spaced lugs 7 provided with vertical openings or eyes 8 therethrough for receiving rods 9 for supporting condensers between their outer ends. The main body portion 4 of the plate is also provided with a recess 10 to retain any metal leaking from the condensers at the junction with the retorts.

The socket portion of the shelf consists of an upper forwardly extending shoulder 11 and a lower shelf 12, which extends a considerable distance beyond the upper shoulder and is, as shown, spaced therefrom in a vertical position to permit of engagement between these shoulders of the entire is provided with a concave upper surface to accommodate a correspondingly curved surface 14 on the tile 6 and the tile is supported, when in engagement with the casting, against the lower side 15 of the shoulder 11 and the upper andfouter edge or corner of the shoulder 12. The vertical distance between these bearing points, indicated by the line 17 is less than the depth of the engaged portion of the tile (indicated by the line'lS), so that the tile cannot work its way, out of engagement by lateral movement, and it is of course prevented from any other movement by the weight of the retort against the tile.

The weight of the retort resting upon the tile, which is indicated by the arrow 19, holds the tile in position in the casting and the construction of the latter is such that the casting itself is withdrawn from the intense heat of the furnace. By thus withdrawing the greater part of the casting from the intense heat of the hot gaswithin the furnace, burning out of the casting is prevented, which has heretofore been a source of considerable trouble as it required renewal of the castings and also produced slag which cut the mouth of the retorts, causing them to crack and leak and cementing them into the supports so that they could be removed when necessary only with great difficulty and loss of time of the smelting period.

The present shelf is extremely simple in its construction and avoids the difiiculties heretofore met with in this type of supports for use in zinc smelting and other furnaces, and at the same time provides an effective supporting means for the tile, which in turn support the retorts.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and diseeive a tile and shaped so as to hold the same against. disengaging movement in a horizontal direction.

2. A front shelf element for zine smelting 1f urnaces, con'lprising a body portion having a projecting lower horizontal shelf with upper concave surface and a spaced shorter upper, horizontal shell, said two shelves forming a tile receiving socket.

3. A front shelf element for nine smeltiing furnaces. comprising a body portion having a projecting lower horizoptal shelf and a spaced shorter upper, horizontal shelf. said two shelves forming a tile receiving socket. and the vertical distance between said shelves at their outer edges being less than the vertical distance between the central portion of said lower shelf and said upper shelf.

4. The combination of a shelf element having a bod portion and spaced horizontal shoulders projecting therefrom, the lower of said shoulders having a concave upper surface. and a title adapted to be received between said shoulders and to till the space therebetween, said shoulders being constructed to engage. said tile and restrain the same from horizontal movement from between said shoulders.

The combination of a shelf element having a body portion and spaced horizontal shoulders projecting therefrom. the lower of said shoulders having a concave upper surface. and a tile provided with a. lateral portion engaging between said. shoulders. and said shoulders engaging said tile adjacent its inner edge and at a point intermediate said edge and the point of loading on said tile.

(3. A supporting shelf for use in zinc, smelting furnaces comprising a body portion provided with a recessed upper surtace adapted to collect and retain metal leaking thereon, and a socket portion :uljac nt thereto consisting of spaced shoulders of unequal length shaped to receive therehetween :1 retort supporting tile and hold the same against disengaging movement in horizontal direction.

i gned by me. this 19th day of July. 1926.

HARRY A. URINE.

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